Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-08-18

upon the eneroaching flames, and with
this earthwork, built handful by hand
full, kept back the fire.
While this was going on other brave
men crept underneath the wrecked
cars, beneath the fires and wooden bars
which held prisoners so many precious
lives, with pieces of board and some
times their hands, beat back the flames
when they flashed up alongside some
unfortunate wretch who, pinned down
by a heavy beam, looked on helplessly
while it seemed as if his death by fire
was certain.
And while the fight was thus going
on, the ears of the workers were filled
with the groans of dying men and the
anguished entreaties of those whose
death seemed certain unless the terri
BILE blaze could be eXtinguisheG, and
the cries of those too badly hurt to care
in what manner the end was brought
about only so it would be quick.
So they dug up earth with their
hands, reckless of the blood streaming
out from broken finger nails, and heap
ing it up in little mounds, while all the
time came heartrending cries, "For
Gods sake don't let US burn to deathW
But finally
THE VICTORY WAS WON.
The fire was out after four hours of
endeavor, and as its last spark died
away light came up in the east to take
their place aud dawn came upon the
scene of horror.
While the fight had been going on
men had been dying, and there were
not so many wounded TO take out of the
wreck as there had been four hours be-
fore.
But in the meantime the country had
been aroused. Help had come from
Chatsworth, Forest and Piper City, and
as the dead were laid reverently along
side of each other out in the cornfield,
there were ready hands to take them
into Chatsworth, while some of the
wounded were carried to Piper City.
One hundred and eighteen was an
awful poll. of the dead while the wound
ed numbers four times that number
The full tale of the dead cannot. how
ever, be told yet for days.
ChatswOrth was turned into morgde
to-day. The town hall, engine house
and depot, were all
FULL OF DEAD BODIES,
while every house in the little village
had its quota of wounded.
There was over one hundred coTpses
lying in eXtemporiZed dead-houses, and
every man and woman was turned into
an amateur but Jealous nurse. Over
in the lumberyard the noise of hammers
and saws rang out in the air, and in il
| busy carpenters were making rough
cotfins to cary to their homes the dead
bodies of the excursionistS, who, twelve
hours before, had left their homes full
of pleasurable expectations of their en-
joyment they We're going to have dur
ing the vacation which had Just be
Igun.
When the news of the disaster wa
first flashed over the wires prompt ait
was at once sent. DIR. Steel, chief sur
geon of the Toledo, Peoria and WARSAW
R., had come on at once in specia
train and with him were two othel
surgeons and their assistants.
From Peoria also came Drs. Martin
Baker, Flagloere and Johnson. From
every city whence the unfortunate eX
cursionists had come their physic;an
and friends hurried on to help them.
From Peoria had also come delega
tions of Red Men and the Ancien
Order of United Workmen, member
of both societies being on the ill fatet
train, and so after s O'Clock in the morn
ing there were plenty of people to d.
the work that needed such prompt at
tention.
In the town hall was the main hos
| y1ifot and in IL onviols roIotivac anI
sorrowing friends sat tanning gentli
the sufferers faces and queried the al
tending surgeons as they bound up tn,
wounds and insisted that there mus
be hope.
Down in the dead houses, fathers
, husbands, brethers, sisters, wives an(
, children tearfully inspected each fac
as it was uncovered, and sighed as tn
features were unknown or cried out il
; anguish when the we'll known face
sometimes fearfully mangled, but We
, recognizable, were uncovered.
, The entire capacity of the little vii
: lage was taxed, and kind hearted wo
men drove in from miles to give thei
gentle administrations to the sufferers
, No sooner had the wreck occurre,
, than
ASCENE OF ROBBERY
commenced. Some band of unspeak
able miscreants, heartless, with onl
criminal instincts, was on hand lik
guerillas who throng battle field tn
night after conflict and tllch from tn
dead. Last night, like human hyenas
these wretches plundered the dea,
from this terrible accident and tool
even the shoes which covered thei
/ feet.
Who these wretches are is not nov
known. Whether they were band Q
pick pockets who accompanied tn
: : train or some robber gang who wer
lurking in the vicinity cannot be said
THE HORRIBLE SUSPICION,
however. exists, and there are man
who give it credit, that the acciden
was deliberately planned; that tn
bridge was set on fire by miscreant
who hoped to sieze the opportunit
offered.
The fact that the bridge was so ia
consumed at the time the train cam
along, and the added fact that the trail
was an hour and half late, are point
ed out as evidence of careful con
spiracy.
i 1t seems hardly possible that mai
could be 80 lost to all ordinary feelin
which animatss the basest of the hu
man race. But still, men who will ro
dead men, who will steal from tn
dying, will plunder the wounded, hel,